Preparation of hydrogen peroxide



Sept. 17, 19:35 A. PIETZSCH v 2 ,015,040

PREPARATION OE" H'YDROG-EN- PEROXIDE i M 27, 5v 2 sheevis -Sheat L m): n H H v h M M INVENTOR] ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 17, 1935 g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rnnraaanon or HYDROGEN r'unoxmn Albert Pietzsch, Solln, near Munich, Germany, assignor to Elektrochemische Werke Munchen A. G., Hollriegelsirreuth, near, Munich, Germany Application May 27, 1935, Serial No. 23,757

In Germany May 31, 1933 Claims. (01. 204-31)- This invention relates to, the production of hydrogen peroxide from its elements under conditions of high moisture content and at relatively high temperatures.

5 It is well known that hydrogen peroxide is" formed by electrical discharge in hydrogenoxygen mixtures. In general, heretofore, the operation has been performed upon dry reaction picked up in the electrical formationof the gasesis only incidental, however, and therefore, only small traces of water vapor were present per cubic meter so that the favorable influence due to the presence 'of substantial quantities of moisture was not apparent in the prior process.. The applicant has investigated whether an addition of water vapor to the reaction gases and at the same time ;using elevated temperatures would improve the yield of hydrogen peroxide; The applicant has discovered that quantities of watervapor of at least 50 grams per cubic meter have ayield increasing influence upon the'hydrogen peroxide; the yield increasing influence does not depend alone upon the moisture content but also upon other conditions, for instance, the gas temperature for an addition of water vapor alone may suitable for use in conjunction with the operation of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a plot of the hydrogen peroxide yield per hour at increasing gas temperatures at a constant saturation temperature;

Fig. 3 shows a plot of the hydrogen peroxide yield per hour at increasing saturation temperatures at a constant gas temperature;

F .4 shows the change of electrical power consumed with increasing gas temperatures;

Fig. 5 shows the change of' the power consumed with increasingv saturation temperatures; Fig. 6 is a plot showing the variation of the energy-yield with change in gas temperature at a constant saturation temperature;,and

. '7 shows the plot of the change in energy 5 gas temperature being constant.

yield with change in saturation temperature, the

. When a given quantity of dry -reaction gases were used in a conventional apparatus 0.098 gram of hydrogen peroxide was formed per hour, while with 20% moisture (humidity), 0.217 gram of hydrogenjperoxide per hour was formed. The 5 v electrical consumption is, because of the moisture, even somewhat lowered, so that the influence on the energy yield (thequotient oi the hydrogen peroxide production divided by the energy added) is even larger than these figures show. Further-10 examples are given in the accompanying Fig. 3. which at constant average gas temperature tm in the discharge chamber,shows the influence of the amount of moisture(characterized-by the satura-- tion temperature ts) on the hydrogen peroxide 1 I production, the electrical power consumed (Fig. 5) and the energy-yield (Fig. 7) One notices that a specified amount of water vapor per cubic meter -must be employed, otherwise a decrease in yield might ensue due tothe water vapor. Furthergo more, a specifled value for the moisture in relation to the average gas temperature tm inthe reaction chamber must be chosen for good production. Because of the presence of the moisture in the product produced in accordance with the 25 present invention, tm may not ,be much smaller than ts, because otherwise condensation on the insulation parts of the electrical apparatus and short circuits or at least heavy losses of electrical current might occur. To prevent such occur- 0 rences it is suflicient to make tm somewhat larger than ts.

The examples set forth in Figs. 2, 4 and 6 show that for optimum relation and therefore optimum yield of hydrogen peroxide the average gas tem- '36 perature tm. must be madeconsiderably larger than ts. This optimum relation is based upon a new and important physical-law. It' has been proposed, heretofore, to operate in the discharge chamber at temperatures at which condense; 40 tion of the reaction product upon the walla'of the reaction chamber is not permitted; a desirability when the hydrogen peroxide and water vapor are concentrated to a considerable extent.

To this end relatively low temperatures are-45 Y serviceable because the condition giving high energy-yields does not permit high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide vapor to occur in the discharge chamber. When the hydrogen peroxide vapors in the discharge chamber are highly-con- 50 centrated, apartial destruction of such hydrogen been found heretofore, but to accomplish this end, 56

it is suflicient to. surpass the saturation temperature. In accordance with the procedures of the present invention and. in accordance with another viewpoint, the average temperature in the apparatus is chosen to produce the optimum relation between tm and ts. The optimum for temperature of the gas mixture lies, in such case,

considerably above. the saturation. temperature of the gas-vapor mixture, so that this is strongly overheated. In accord with the investigationsleading to the present invention, the gas temperature tm must have a particular value for any moisture content, if the yield is to be'the optimum. According to these investigations the optimum temperature for ts is in general greater than 40 C. and tm greater than 50 C. The exact position of the optimum may be found by tests and depends particularly upon the fact whether greater operating weight is placed upon increased energy-yield or upon increased hydrogen peroxide production in a particular apparatus,

By adjusting these optimal relations of is and tm, further advantages arise in developing the practical hydrogen peroxide production method by electrical discharge, since, as already mentioned, a considerable concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapor in the reaction chamber is not peroxide.

desirable, and as one, on'the other hand, de-

dense. This quantity of heat may be utilized, in'

accordance with the invention, for operatinga distilling column, so that without addition of ener y. high percentage hydrogen peroxide solution is -obtained. V

In accordance withthe accompanying Fig. 1 the reaction gases, after leaving the electrical reaction zone, built in conventional fashion, pass to a superheater, which, as further described hereinafter, represents a further factor of the invention, and then enter the column from the bottom. This column is constructed in a manner well known in this 'art and is supplied, for in.-

stance, either with single floors or witha filling of Rashig rings or other filling bodies. The gases are cooled down in the upper part of the column, for instance by means of a pipe system with cool-v ing water flowing therethrough. By proper dimensioning of the column and under proper cooling, a continuous flow of high percentage (for instance 30%) hydrogen peroxide is obtained from the bottomcof the column, whilethe percentage of the hydrogen peroxide vaporsin the reaction gases flowing toward the column is very small (0.5%). By properly dimensioning the column and the condenser, a.point is reached where the vapor-gas mixture discharges from the top of the column without a trace of hydrogen Therefore one 'will, general, cool down the gases in the condenser to such an extent that they have the most advantageous moisture content for the reaction, therefore to the saturation temperature ts. One can, in particular cases, cool the gases down still further and subsequently add the deficiency of moisture by chamber; partially cooled gas mixture, containing hydrogen peroxide, water, hydrogen and oxygen, debouches spraying water thereto orby addition of water vapor. This is rec'onunendedespecially when, for instance for reasons of space deficiency, the column cannot be made to thedesired height,

and therefore, in a smaller space a strong column 5 eifect is, bound to appear-which, in accordance with known rules, takes place the sooner the greater the temperature difference is between the entering and outgoing gas It is usually advantageous to re-circulate the gas mixture which leaves the column back again to, theelectrical reaction zone, for-instance with the aid of a fan,

after the gases consumed by the reaction have ,been replaced by addition of hydrogen and oxygen.

Without specialtreatment, in accordance witlr'l5 this procedure, the reacting gases would enter the reaction chamber with a temperature of ts or lower due to heat loss to the surrounding air,

since, however, as, basis for the energy-yield,

as above mentioned, a specified high tempera.- ture isldesirable, one can either-heat the gases externally before their entrance into the reaction zone, or follow the procedure as in the example shown in Fig. 1'. Accordingto the drawings the gases pass to a superheater, for instance;

a pipe system, through which the strongly overheated gases flow leaving the reaction zone and .point where the warm gasests canbe heated to that temperature most advantageous'for the energy-yield.

By this circulating process the end is achieved that the chemical heat 'of formation liberated during the electrical ionization followed by molecular union, or through direct heating of the gases and also by the direct union of hydrogen and oxygen, is completely utilized, so that a 40 further addition of heat is not necessary. Sub stantially the entire. electrical energy plus the chemical heat of formation will be taken off by means of the cooling water provided the heat circulation is. good. The hot water obtained, in this manner can be utilized for difierent pur poses.

In the drawings a reaction chamber is shown diagrammaticallyat It, a heat interchange: at

H and a cooling column at l2. Hydrogen and oxygen gases enter the apparatus at the induction ports 13 and M, respectively, and mingle with previously treated gases in the return conduit IS, the quantities of the hydrogen andoxy gen added being regulated, by the composition'of the return gases, the mixture passing to the circulatmg device or fan I which delivers the gases to the reaction chamber l0. Prior to the entrance of the reaction gases to the reaction chamber the quantity of moisture calculated to produce the desired and optimum degree of, saturation is added to the reaction mixture, as for instance by means of a water spray or steam jet l1.

After passing through the. reaction" chamber and being subjected to theproper electrical discharge for producing ionizationof the gases and ,-their molecular union. to hydrogen peroxide, the

mixture passes through the heat interchanger I l where some sensible heat is transferred to the 7 return gases previously treated in the reaction From the heat interchanger I I the into the cooling column 12" where the'hydrogen 15 i; Y 1 inghydrogenpemxidevepotthmughaheitex-q 'a,o1s,o4o x3- peroxidekoondemedimtheuixture,tqgeth- 8.1heproeeaoiproducm fidmenperouide y theeondemete (iipby electrical dilehme'inhydrogen-omen'mix- Ill ,theneeapefsin: meewhieheomprieeeaddingwaternportothe wthmu 'hthebllteitorother device, reactio aminmmmttoprodueeeunmtion mthe qpilell. 'lhehon-condemabie temperatinreo! mterihanjflifcemainteininz- '5 mmiromthetopolthecolumnendpeesh the tempentureoi the reacting gases ehovef intoh thedowntlherll and'pver the'heet inter- 50C.,1ubjecting the neee-toeieetrical disclnn ermendtheneempletethemled ehu egndthereetterpusinztheau'eecontlin mthe-to'temin itwliibeemmtthat chenzertolowerthetemperztureqtthevaponm theweeentinventionnmideemm'tor L'Iheproeeaeotproducinghydmgenperoxide at Wm hydmgeawouide tromh'ydmen-omenmixtureswhicheompriaee mtheticaliy itlelemente under related. adding water vepor to the reaction-M in eoaditionsottemhetemnlndmoimmemtent amountwprodueeaamntion tempenmge whereby the enei y-yiekk are M1! ingreeterthenw'cumeintainimthetempentmejs ere-led emciencien obpithereectin'zueesahqve 50C.,subiectin: Mined: I i theaaeatoeiectricaidiachargewiththeproducmllflfllledjli 7 tion a! hydrogen peroxide, condensing the hy- L'lhemolmdueinghydrmenperoxide dro enperoxidefmm'themixturemdpueing hyeleetrieei hgrlein-hydlqenmnixthe peroxide tree-nee: back to thexeactionm chnmhereiter heat interchange withthenaes reeetiennleein'mttowodueeemieevin thereactionchaqiben v h lire m than 40. (L man- 5, me process of producing hydrogen peroxmm reacting lee ide by electrical diachane in hymen-men s'ahn-etien'tempentwed'theaees, mixtures which comprises edding et instill-g I 'mms-otnterpercuhicmeterotgamixture pt temperature where tri'efliflildinnedin hymen-m en thevsportbtqmdmbiecflnzthel aeeetoeleeto lhunount to m at: t mv m m fim'b M W m mw wn 

